Riq Woolen’s taunt nearly cost Seattle — but Seahawks survive, win NFC title
It wasn’t Riq Woolen’s finest moment.
Leading 31-20 late in the third quarter, Seattle had just denied Los Angeles on 3rd and 12, forcing a fourth down. Woolen broke up the pass intended for Puka Nacua. Then he went over to the Rams sideline to talk a little trash.
He overstayed his welcome. Woolen’s chatting drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, gifting the Rams a fresh set of downs. On the next play, Stafford connected with Puka Nacua — over Woolen, no less — for a 34-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Rams within four points.
Fortunately for Woolen, Seattle hung on for the 31-27 win to advance to the Super Bowl. How different the Seahawks locker room would’ve looked and sounded postgame had that not been the case.
Woolen owned the mistake after the game.
“I made a great play,” he said. “I gotta be better than that, celebrate with my team and the next play, they scored a touchdown. That wouldn’t have happened if I just celebrate with the team, so I gotta be smarter. I got a taunting penalty earlier in the season, so I’ve gotta be more aware of that. They’re gonna call the taunt. I gotta celebrate with the team and shoot, onto the next play.”
Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said he was “frustrated” but wanted the team to move on.
“Look, Riq has done a tremendous job for us,” Macdonald said. “Yeah, you’re frustrated in the moment about what’s happening, but he just made an emotional decision and we got to pick him up. That’s not the time to point (the finger), get all upset. You’ve got to go play the next play and score and go rebound back and go back.”
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori appeared fiery on the Seattle sideline after the touchdown drive but downplayed it after the game.
“It’s just a competitive game,” Emmanwori said. “We’re one game away from the Bowl. Told him to stay in the game, we’re gonna need you later on in the game. Guys are going at each other. It’s competitive guys, two competitive teams, a lot of alpha males.
“That’s my brother though. We’ve got a bond like that. Teams that have great bonds can do stuff like that. Next play, next series, next job, that was the message.”
Referee Clay Martin told the designated pool reporter (ESPN’s Brady Henderson) that Woolen was warned by the side official.
“The covering official had him walking toward and into the opponent’s bench, continuing to jaw after repeated efforts by the official to have him turn away and go to his own bench,” Martin said. “When he chose not to do so, that’s what rose to the level of a foul.”
Martin said there was nothing specific Woolen said to incur the penalty.
“Just continued jawing in the opponent’s bench area after being asked to walk away.”
Safety Julian Love said he wanted to hold everyone together.
“I’m pretty much the glue guy on defense,” he said. “I got decent emotional intelligence. I knew in that moment, he understood what he did. It was a poor decision. OK, whatever. We need him.”
Despite the untimely penalty and subsequent Rams touchdown, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones felt confident the Seahawks defense would rise to the occasion late in the game. Seattle denied Los Angeles on 4th and 4 from the Seattle 6-yard line with just under five minutes to play on a clutch defensive pass defense from Devon Witherspoon.
“I started, honestly, in that moment laughing because I was like, bro, we worked on these death zone moments,” he said. “When our backs are against the wall, man, we’ve worked on these moments. So, I knew that we were going to rise to the occasion. Just a matter of who was going to do it.”
The offense bled the clock afterward, giving the Rams the ball at their own 7-yard line with 25 seconds remaining. Nacua stayed inbounds after a reception from quarterback Matthew Stafford and time expired, sending Seattle through to the Super Bowl.
Woolen was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, giving Seattle general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald a decision to make on his future with the franchise.
Seattle will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, which will be held Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
This story was originally published January 25, 2026 at 10:42 PM.
